"The screen worked in Caen stone was a gift of the late Monsʳ. de
Mesmond. It is supported by six pillars of black marble, given by Canon
Baucher; it was commenced in 1698, and completed in 1700. Between the
pillars are excellent statues of the Blessed Virgin and S. Joseph, and
the whole is surmounted by an image of our Lord crucified, boldly
carved. It was erected on the 23rd of December, 1702."—Histoire de la
Ville de Bayeux, par M. Beziers. Caen, 1773.
N.B. The original screen was irreparably injured by the Calvinists, who
sacked this noble church in 1561. A full account of the sacrilege
committed by them, may be seen in the same work, p. 236.